Like many other countries that have passed plain packaging, lawsuits as well as implementation details might delay the new law’s finalization.

A draft memo sent to the European Union last year would require cigar manufacturers to have a tamper-proof security feature as well as a unique identifier that would allow authorities to determine where and when the product was manufactured, where it is intended for sale, the importer and other details.

It’s unclear whether these requirements are part of the new regulations. If so, the draft memo indicated cigarette manufacturers would need to comply by May 20, 2019 while cigar manufacturers would not need to have these features until May 20, 2024.

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I handle the editing of our written content, the majority of the technical aspects of the site and work with the rest of our staff on content management, business development and more. I’ve lived in most corners of the country and now entering my second stint in Dallas, Texas. I enjoy boxing, headphones, the Le Mans 24-hour, wearing sweatshirts year-round and gyros. echte liebe.